Lookie What I've Been up too...

[John_A]

Well been wondering how I was gonna do my rock either and thought it might be fun to DIY my rock! Let me know what you guys think here is a few pieces couldnt find any white so had to use grey but after it gets colored up will look good!


<a href="http://s732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/?action=view&current=IMG_0787.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/IMG_0787.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/?action=view&current=IMG_0796.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/IMG_0796.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/?action=view&current=IMG_0797.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/IMG_0797.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/?action=view&current=IMG_0795.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/IMG_0795.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[gannmann9876]

very cool. how did you do that?

 

[andywe]

Looks great John!

 

[Pickupman66]

SLICK MAN! how porus is it? what method did you do? the one with the salt?

 

[Mobikob]

very cool. how did you do that?

http://www.garf.org/news5p1.shtml#mold

 

[Popes120]

Sweet looks good

 

[John_A]

Acutally I tired the salt and didnt like it very much so I used 5:1 Crushed Oyster shells to Portland cement. Also bought 100lbs of play sand and used a small play Pool to make the molds with. As far as how porus VERY They soak up water like a Sponge. I got 1 bag of cement and Im sure that I could make about 200lbs with it Plus I get the shapes I want or need.

Total Cost $41.00

 

[John_A]

This Video is Good to follow just leave out the rock salt as if you follow the 5:1 mixture of oyster shells/crushed coral to cement mix you dont need the salt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFPebEdEoMA

 

[Pickupman66]

NICE. so you didnt use the rock salt at all, just the shell and the cement. those LOOK AWESOME! and that price is very doable for just about anyone.

 

[John_A]

Yea and since I am still getting parts for mine the soak wont be so bad as it will end once I have everything else together I just pulled one out with caves stand by for pictures

 

[John_A]

Fresh from the Mold

Fresh from the Mold

This rock Has 3 Caves in it one on each side

<a href="http://s732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/?action=view&current=IMG_0801.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/IMG_0801.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/?action=view&current=IMG_0802.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/IMG_0802.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/?action=view&current=IMG_0803.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/IMG_0803.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/?action=view&current=IMG_0804.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/JohnA26/IMG_0804.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Pickupman66]

NICE! cannot wait to see it.. All that rock would sure look SWEEET in a 225.. Hey,I've got one for sale! LOL.....

 

[John_A]

The price would acutally be cheaper if you dont use the salt I got it thinking I needed it and used it for one set and figured out it wasnt needed. Finally found a use for all those old crushed coral sand beds tho lol but this is great if you just sitting up a tank and need alot of rock make your rock first let it soak while you do the rest Im very happy with the results

 

[John_A]

lol I'll make ya some rock for that 180 and I'll trade

 

[John_A]

Thanks Guys for all the Kind words! Was worried it they wouldnt come out how I planned but worked out awsome! I have them on the back deckand spraying them down every few hours to help them harden as best as possible and some of the first ones are pretty solid I have about 20 or so different ones some ranging from 1-2lbs to 3-5lbs

 

[Pickupman66]

John, would have taken you up on that had I not gotten rock with the 180! your does look sweeeet..

 

[John_A]

Thanks! ah Better not test my Luck with the Wife took me awhile to get her to like the idea of a 125 lol. I did read today however supposedly if you let these dry for 2 weeks and just keeping them damp it shortens the soak time so Im gonna try this and see Im thinking it shouldnt be bad with what little cement was used I'll keep this post updated on my results!

 

[John_A]

Idea...Maybe I should get a cheap pool from walmart and start my own live rock business hahah

 

[Pickupman66]

JOhn.. truthfully, there would be an idea....

 

[John_A]

I may look into this I wanna see how these turn out and work out how to keep them come winter would be a nice selling point to have some with caves and etc